1. The Platform Document:
An Advocacy Roadmap

2.  Broad, philosophical guiding
principles
 Directs advocacy work, provides
guidance
 “Living document” that is
updated annually
What is it?

3.  The birth of MSCSA in 1998 merged two
organizations
 Stances are always in flux
 The document reflects legislative and
MnSCU policy changes
History:

4.  Roadmap for:
◦ Agenda-building
◦ Responding to proposals
◦ Addressing issues when the Platform
Committee isn’t meeting
How is it used?

5.  Adopt changes to the Platform
Document at General Assembly (GA)
 Recommendations from the Platform
Committee
 There can also be changes adopted
off the floor at the GA
How does it change?

6. MSCSA either supports
or opposes issues in our
Platform Document
Scope of Positions

7.  Article I: Mission Statement
 Article II: Federal Legislative Issues
 Article III: State Legislative Issues
 Article IV: Local and Campus Issues
 Article V: International
 Article VI: Minnesota State Colleges
and Universities (MnSCU)
Format (sections)

8.  Separate, timely, short-term, and specific
agenda. Issues we are actively pursuing.
 Should never conflict with the Platform
Document.
What about our legislative
agendas?

9. Questions?